Greece receives new EU-funded firefighting vehicles to boost fire preparedness
Iain Hoey
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EU–Greece cooperation targets growing wildfire risks
The European Commission has reported that 100 firefighting vehicles were officially handed over to Greece as part of a joint civil protection effort between Greece and the European Union.
Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, representing the European Commission, announced the delivery during a visit to Greece, describing it as part of a broader preparedness effort to address the increased severity and frequency of wildfires across Europe.
The vehicles are funded under the AIGIS civil protection programme and are co-financed through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Greece is one of the most active contributors and recipients within the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, having sent assistance abroad 21 times since 2016 while also requesting help on nine occasions since 2017.
Greece’s national preparedness efforts, including these vehicles and new Canadair aircraft expected by 2028, align with the EU’s Preparedness Strategy launched in March 2025.
EU firefighting resources deployed for summer wildfire season
According to the European Commission, 22 firefighting planes and four helicopters coordinated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism are stationed across Europe, with four planes located in Greece.
Commissioner Lahbib said the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre in Brussels remains operational around the clock and closely coordinates with national centres like Greece’s.
As part of pre-positioned seasonal assistance, 350 firefighters from six EU countries are currently deployed in Greece, including personnel from the Czech Republic.
Greece also plans to send nearly 30 firefighters to Corsica in September as part of reciprocal support.
This approach reflects a new EU-wide focus on proactive emergency readiness, which includes forward deployment of teams to expected high-risk areas.
Legislative proposals aim to strengthen emergency response
Commissioner Lahbib announced a new legislative proposal intended to enhance the EU’s ability to anticipate and respond to complex emergencies, including wildfires, earthquakes, and other transboundary crises.
The proposed legislation includes provisions to expand financial support for preparedness and multi-sector emergency response, particularly where impacts affect energy, communications, or transport infrastructure.
The Commissioner said the aim is to formalise the bloc’s support mechanisms into a more coordinated and better-resourced response system.
The proposal builds on lessons from events such as the 2023 Alexandroupolis wildfires and earlier COVID-19 response coordination efforts.
The legislative initiative is part of the EU’s broader strategy to improve civil protection resilience across all member states.
Civil protection coordination draws on past experience
According to the European Commission, Greece has participated in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as both a donor and recipient in recent years.
Notably, Greece provided assistance to Albania and North Macedonia in the past two weeks, demonstrating ongoing bilateral cooperation.
In August 2023, Greece requested EU assistance to help tackle the Alexandroupolis fire, the largest ever recorded in Europe.
Such examples of mutual aid are now a standard part of the EU’s regional emergency management planning, and Greece continues to play a central role in field operations.
Commissioner Lahbib highlighted that Greece’s earlier introduction of pre-positioned fire crews inspired the broader EU model.
Preparedness strategy supports national and cross-border efforts
The European Commission launched its Preparedness Strategy in March 2025 as the first comprehensive EU-wide approach to civil protection readiness.
This framework supports cross-border cooperation, pre-positioning of resources, and national-level investment in response infrastructure.
Greece’s AIGIS programme and the new fleet of firefighting vehicles are examples of projects co-funded under this strategy using Recovery and Resilience Facility grants.
Commissioner Lahbib said: “These firefighting vehicles are not just impressive machines. They represent protection, preparedness, and partnership.”
She added: “We are not only responding. We are preparing.”
Greece receives new EU-funded firefighting vehicles to boost fire preparedness: Summary
The European Commission has delivered 100 firefighting vehicles to Greece.
The vehicles are funded through the AIGIS civil protection programme.
The programme is co-financed by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The handover follows a meeting between Commissioner Hadja Lahbib and Greek officials.
Lahbib confirmed the vehicles would support Greece’s national fire response.
The vehicles are part of the EU’s broader Preparedness Strategy.
Greece hosts four firefighting planes from the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.
A total of 22 planes and 4 helicopters are on standby across Europe.
Greece has also received 350 firefighters from six EU countries.
The EU launched new legislation to expand emergency response capacity.
This proposal aims to manage complex and multi-sector disasters.
Greece contributed to recent operations in Albania and North Macedonia.
The EU supported Greece during the Alexandroupolis fires in 2023.
The European Commission’s Preparedness Strategy was launched in March 2025.
New Canadair aircraft for Greece will arrive by 2028.
Greece will send firefighters to Corsica in September 2025.